We all know how cold and snowy Minnesota can get in winter, with 30″ to 70″ of snow annually. If you ask any Minnesotian, they’ll tell you you’ll need winter tires, also known as snow tires, to drive safely in our winters. As your Ford dealer in Rochester, MN we want to tell you about some of the benefits of using these specialized tires.
From Your Ford Dealer in Rochester, MN: Benefits of Winter Tires
Better Traction
Snow tires are specially engineered to give your Ford the greatest possible traction on snow or ice. Tires are built from layers of rubber, and the tread, the part of the tire in contact with the surface, is reinforced with polymer and steel bands to provide added strength. Low temperatures change the consistency of regular or all-season tires, and they become firmer.
The increased firmness of the rubber means that the tire loses friction, and this can cause it to slip and slide. Snow tires are built using specialized rubber compounds that continue to stay flexible on even the coldest winter day. This flexibility allows them to still produce friction with the surface and prevents your car from skidding.
Avoid Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is a scary situation where liquid, snow, or ice on the road surface causes your tires to lose contact with surface. Your Ford has an ABS that prevents your wheels from locking and putting your car in an uncontrollable skid. Despite this, if you’re driving on regular tires in snowy conditions, your car will still slide.
Snow tires prevent hydroplaning as they have larger grooves between the tread blocks. The tread blocks also feature sharp, irregular edges that enable the tires to cut through the snow, which is then forced backward through the grooves, and away from the tires.
Faster Braking
When you jam on the brakes, two forces work together to bring your car to a stop. The first force is the pressurized brake fluid that pushes the calipers against the rotors to generate friction, and this friction stops the rotors from moving. The second is the friction generated by your tire tread against the surface. The more friction a tire can generate, the faster and safer your car will stop.
As we saw above, regular tires generate less friction against the surface at low temperatures, and this increases your stopping distance. In contrast, snow tires remain flexible in low temperatures, so they continue to generate friction against the surface. This increased friction will bring your car to a stop much faster.
We advise always installing snow tires in our winters. Although snow can fall as early as October, snow tires should be fitted by the middle of November. If you’d like to know more about snow tires or to purchase a set for your Ford, visit us today at Rochester Ford in Rochester, MN.
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